Issuu

minster football club

CLUBOFFICIALS

Chairman

Colin Holden

Secretary

Steve Farbrace

1stTeamManager

Ian Wallace

1stTeamAssistantManager

Liam Morris

ReserveTeamManager

Elliot Austin

3rdTeam(1911)Manager

Colin Holden

WomensTeamManager

Steph Meeks

WomensTeamCoaches

Andy Long

Paige Godden

VeteransTeamManager

Steve Farbrace

U18KYLYouthTeamManager

Russell Wilson

U16FDYFLYouthTeamManager

Nelson Were

U16EKYFLYouthTeamManager

James Wells

U15FDYFLYouthTeamManager

James Wells

MEMBERS

OF:

FRONTCOVERPHOTOCREDIT:

Kent & County Football League

Canterbury & District Football League

South East Counties Womens Football League

Len Martin Thanet & District Football League

Kent Youth League

East Kent Youth Football League

Faversham & District Youth Football League

“Cadan’s a young photographer from Thanet who knows how to catch the magic in a match. Football’s his first passion, but point his camera anywhere and you’ll still get something special.”

Together we can end hate in football Poor behaviour in football is increasing. Prejudice is on the rise. All forms of discrimination – including racist, sexist and homophobic abuse – is ruining our game. We’re targeting discriminatory abuse in all its forms with a range of

Tell us when it happens, and we’ll tackle it. Together we can put an end to discrimination in the grassroots game.

from the chair

We are back at Hartsdown Park today for the first of our five remaining fixtures for the season – three of these at home. Sir Alex Ferguson famously used the phrase “squeaky bum time” for this part of the season as we still remain top of the Premier Division but mathematically could be overtaken by Hawkinge Town … but this could change dramatically as each round of fixtures are completed.

Today we welcome Wayne and his Metrogas squad to Hartsdown Park – they have travelled from just the other side of Bexley this afternoon. Having spotted the year 1888 on their club badge I consulted with my mate Google for a little more insight and uncovered a great bit of history. Metrogas FC were founded in 1888 as a works team for employees of the South Metropolitan Gas Company in Greenwich. The club emerged during construction of the East Greenwich Gas Works, a major industrial project of its era. A club that has made it’s way through many historical moments in time not unlike ourselves. We wish “The Gas” a safe journey home after what we think will be a close fought but entertaining game here today.

Welcome also to Will and his assistants Aiden and Oliver who will keep us all in check today and keep the game running smoothly.

I made it back from the mountains to find myself back on caretaker manager duties for our young 1911 team this afternoon as we battle it out in the Canterbury Challenge Cup. With our Kent Youth League U18s team almost completing their season we have been able to give some of the even younger players a taste of adults football and so far they have all excelled and enjoyed the experience. As with all of our younger players in our Saturday squads I have been impressed with how they have adapted to the physicality of adults football, remain unphased by it all and get on with their football. Some very good signs for the future.

The future’s bright, the future’s orange (or amber, or yellow … )

Enjoythegameandcatchyousoon.

from the boss

Good afternoon and welcome to Hartsdown Park for this afternoon's fixture against Metrogas FC. Metrogas have had a good season to date and currently find themselves in 9th position with fourteen wins, four draws and twelve losses from their thirty games so far this season. Today marks the return fixture after we played today’s opponents away at the Erith Leisure centre on 28th February. On that day a resilient rearguard effort in the first half turned into a second half performance that saw us control much of the game, the winning goal eventually coming from the right foot of Ollie Harris with fifteen minutes to play. A fine away win in London and a pleasing performance overall. We know Metrogas will represent a big test this afternoon and they arrive at us in good spirits having beaten Fleetdown 6-0 in their most recent game.

We will be looking to bounce back this afternoon following the frustration of two defeats in a row, only the second time this has happened this season and the first time in successive league fixtures all year. Whilst we were disappointed with the allround performance against Kent United two weeks ago, the same could not be said for the performance against Aylesford last week. Whilst we initially thought that a strong wind would prove a decisive factor, it was not necessarily to be the case as we controlled the vast majority of the first half with the wind, but we also maintained an element of control in the second whilst playing into the wind. We certainly played better football and the group responded well to the direction given before the game. This led to us creating numerous chances which we, unfortunately, were not able to convert, hitting the post and bar no less than three times in the first half alone. Aylesford meanwhile scored with their only meaningful touch in our penalty area to see us go in one down at the interval. Whilst it was more difficult into a strong wind to control the game in the second half, for the most part we were able to. Despite getting into good positions, we were unable to trouble the scoreboard whilst Aylesford scored from a second corner late on to see us defeated 0-2, our first home league defeat of the season. Ultimately, we deserved more than we got and we will need to take the positives from the performance into this week's game as there is no doubt, we need a positive response to the frustrations of our last two results.

With five games to go in our season there is still all to play for and it is important that we enjoy the games we have left, enjoyment and satisfaction will come from good performances, committed, hardworking, high quality performances; the type of performances we have been putting in all year and we are all confident that we can end the season with a series of positive results. That series starts today, firstly with the performance and then we are sure that the result will follow.

Following today we have a quick turnaround as we travel to New Romney on Tuesday 14th, this is followed by a weekend off before we face Falconwood here on 25th April, a rearranged away game against Meridian is our penultimate game of the season on 2nd May before we end the season at home on 4th May against Kent United. We hope you are able to join us for these games and we look forward to having your support!

Enjoythegametodayandasever, thankyouforyoursupport.

1st Team Manager IanWallace

our main sponsors

Founded by lifelong friends Lawrence Rose and Elliot Payne, ARTO is already a global leader in life sciences talent solutions, dedicated to helping Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and MedTech companies secure the people they need to drive innovation and growth.

With a focus on providing bespoke, high-impact talent strategies across Europe and America, they partner with leading organisations to meet their staffing needs through an efficient, flexible, and insight-driven approach.

Elliot is no stranger to the football club having played for them as part of his introduction into adult football. He would go onto play in the KCFL for East Kent College Bears under our 1 Team assistant manager, Liam Morris. Elliot is also a registered player for the Minster Old Boys (Vets) side.

Tradefit4U are a family run company with a name synonymous with local football. Father and son duo Tony and Jayme Wisker

are both very well known in Thanet Football – Tony often having battled with Minster FC on the pitch during the 80s and 90s. Jayme played for some of the all-conquering Thanet Sunday League sides in his time and along with his brothers Danny (former Margate, Whitstable & Herne Bay) and Kyle (US Scholarships and Whitstable) it is clear that football has always run deep in the Wisker family.

Tradefit4U work alongside some of the best manufactures of UPVC, aluminium, composite and timber products to supply and fit guttering, windows, doors and conservatories.

Working in both the domestic and commercial sectors and based in Manston, Tradefit4U are well positioned to serve Thanet and the South East of England.

our club partners

Youngs Timber & Builders Merchants is a Kent‑based family‑run builders’ merchant operating from branches in Biddenden, Folkestone, and Dymchurch.

Founded in Kent, the business is led by a tight knit team passionate about supporting tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts alike. They stock high‑quality timber, building and plumbing supplies, fencing, decorating materials, landscaping products, cladding, roofing, doors, gates and workwear. With in house cutting and machining services, expert advice, free local delivery and a friendly, knowledgeable team, Youngs delivers professional reliability at local prices.

Shapes is a dynamic Canterbury-based firm combining digital accounting and creative marketing under one roof. Founded in 2023 by JimLeeves (chartered accountant and Xero expert) and SteveKreeger (UX strategist

and storyteller), the team crafts tailored solutions for small businesses in the UK. Their services cover ‘Better Accounting’ - tax, forecasting, digital finance systems - and creative ‘Shapes Marketing’, offering branding, websites, graphic design, video, and digital strategy. With values of simplicity, integrity, transparency, energy, and space, they aim to bring freedom, relief, and delight to clients. Shapes feels friendly, values-driven, and imaginatively practical - a local partner that makes running a business feel effortless and inspired.

Twenty4Seven Education is a fast growing UK education recruitment agency with offices in London, Manchester, Canterbury and beyond. Founded by experienced education professionals, the agency

prioritises honesty, transparency and individualised care for both schools and candidates. They place teachers, teaching assistants, SEN specialists and support staff in permanent, fixed term and supply roles across primary, secondary and special schools. Their Teaching Assistant Academy offers a two week training course for newcomers. With a friendly, responsive team and strong candidate feedback, Twenty4Seven feels supportive, professional and genuinely invested in helping educators thrive.

THISSEASONWEARETEAMING UPWITHTFMWHOWILLHOST THEDIGITALVERSIONSOF THESEPROGRAMMESONLINE

“Thank you to Russel and the Thanet Football Magazine team for your ongoing support—not just for our club, but for the entire local football community.”

ColinHolden Minster FC Chairman

NelsonWere-ourU16YouthTeamManagerand clubphotographerwasagainonthesidelinesfor ourrecentawaywinatFalconwood.

first team

1911 team

womens team

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welcome to minster fc

You will have seen from the club crest that we are over 100 years old with only World Wars getting in the way of continued existence – a matter not taken lightly as club players and staff fought for their country during these difficult times. If you get a chance take a look at the club photos at our pavilion main hall that reminds us of our history and the generations of players that have represented our club.

Throughout these years there have been successful teams – most notably in the 1960s – that have played the game in the right spirit and have set the foundations for future generations to continue. A difficult time in the early 1980s saw the club – with only a single team at the time - almost fail to finish a season in the Thanet League due to lack of players and support.

My father Ralph (also known locally as Colin) stepped in to gather as many eligible youngsters – including myself – to register and play those final matches to keep the club alive. The results didn’t matter – there was a much larger motive to keep the continuity of the club. For us 16/17 year old lads at the time we were finally playing for Minster – a team we had watched from the sidelines for many years. The following seasons saw the club continue to build from the very bottom upwards.

Our club has now grown very quickly in these last 11-12 years as we have built on the success of a very young team – managed by Ian Wallace - that have progressed through the Canterbury & District League and further into the Kent County Football League to the Premier Division where we have consolidated our standing in this division. Two further adult teams were added in 2019/2020 and during these last 5 years we have seen our club develop a pathway for young players within the area to progress with their football. Our veterans team continue to enjoy their football in the local len Martin Thanet & District League. We are also really happy to now have four youth teams represent Minster from U15 to U18 age groups and our previous youth teams have provided players into our adults squads. This season also sees the club develop a women's football team for the first time since the 1960s when Minster were one of the original female teams in the area.

Whilst we have had good fortune on the pitch these last few years backed by a huge amount of effort away from match days, we continue to be a club that see long term friendships and a sense of community spirit as being the real “winning.”

Avillageteamthatwillcontinuetousefootballtobuild competitivespiritalongsidefriendships thatwilllastalifetime.

ColinHolden Chairman

sponsors & community

Project Talking Football is a men’s mental health charity based in East Kent, proudly embedded within the community of Minster FC. The project uses the power of grassroots football to create a safe, familiar and non judgemental space where men can talk openly about their mental health.

By bringing people together around the game, Project Talking Football helps break down stigma, encouraging conversations that might otherwise never happen.

Sessions combine informal football activities with time to talk, listen and support one another, recognising that many men find it easier to open up while side by side rather than face to face. The project aims to reduce isolation, build confidence and improve wellbeing, particularly for those who may feel disconnected from traditional support services.

Project Talking Football also works in alignment with the wider mental health sector, including supporting and signposting to organisations such as Rethink Mental Health, ensuring participants can access professional advice and ongoing help when needed. Rooted in community spirit and teamwork, the project demonstrates how sport can be a positive force for mental health, connection and recovery across East Kent.